Chapter 75
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Chapter 75
* * *
Yurien de Harden Kirie's temporary squire was assigned on a rotating basis among the cadets according to their rank. It was the same method used by most knights without permanent squires. Other knights occasionally called upon cadets they got along with well, found convenient, or simply favored to serve as temporary squires, but Yurien had never done so. He treated whoever came with equal indifference and paid no mind whether they were replaced or not. Until today.
Typically, a temporary squire would visit the knight they were assigned to early in the morning to learn about that day's schedule. Unless there were special instructions the previous day, they were expected to wait at the knight's door around the time he would wake.
"I have taken it upon myself to oversee Cadet Echinacea Loaz's preliminary squire training. Therefore, starting today, Thomas Cadet, who is next in rotation, will serve as your temporary squire."
Waking up to see Ian Peletro first thing in the morning was hardly pleasant. And if he was going to deliver reports like that on top of it all.
I looked down at Ian Peletro, who was smiling with apparent composure. Yet his eyes swam with murky, palpable malice. What was he saying about preliminary training for whom?
I understood Ian's nature quite well. He was likely consumed with jealousy toward Echinacea Loaz, who had been designated as my squire on the very first day of enrollment—so much so that he probably wanted to strangle her. He had been the same way with Baraha Islaf, and with a first-year student, his resentment would only be worse, not better.
'She wouldn't suffer any harm from someone like him.'
Still, I disliked the thought of him lurking around her. So I issued my command flatly.
"Assign the preliminary squire training to another cadet. You will continue your duties as temporary squire according to the established schedule."
"...Pardon?"
"Don't make me repeat myself."
"Ah, understood... Then may I step out briefly? I need to find a replacement cadet and introduce him to Echinacea Loaz."
"You have one hour."
I glanced at my watch as I spoke. Ian looked flustered, then saluted hastily and rushed out. I had no intention of giving him more time. With more time available, he would certainly not assign her a competent cadet.
A cadet to provide preliminary squire training to her. I pondered whether there was anyone suitable. Since I had little interest in the cadets, no one came to mind. Eyes fixed on the documents before me, I continued deliberating.
"Commander, is it necessary to expand the suppression unit's scale this much?"
Baron entered the Squad Leader's Office with a stack of documents, his expression one of surprise. The moment I saw him, I recalled a suitable cadet.
"Baron Tillius, where is your squire at the moment?"
"Baraha Islaf should be in morning training. Why do you ask?"
"Have him stop training and come to the Military Academy briefly."
"Pardon? Why so suddenly...?"
"Cadet Echinacea Loaz is beginning preliminary squire training today. Have him check that it's proceeding properly. If things aren't running smoothly, it might be fine for Baraha Islaf to take over her training entirely."
Baron's expression crumbled into bewilderment. The squire designation had seemed unusual enough, and now the commander was involving himself in preliminary training too? It wasn't difficult work—any senior cadet would suffice—so why specifically Baraha Islaf, his official squire? Was this really the commander I knew?
Seeing his expression, I added as if making an excuse.
"It's not an order. I'm simply suggesting you consider it."
"...Understood. I'll relay this to Baraha Islaf and return."
Baron replied reluctantly and left the Squad Leader's Office.
That evening, I received a report that Baraha Islaf had taken charge of Echinacea Loaz's preliminary squire training.
* * *
"Hey, so you assigned Baraha Islaf as your squire's instructor, huh?"
Dietrich tossed a grape into his mouth while teasing. I didn't respond, simply handing over the documents. With less than a month remaining before the monster suppression, there was much urgent work. As I reviewed the budget for the Suppression Unit's supplies, I heard Dietrich muttering.
"That's unexpected. Well, the squire designation itself was unexpected too. Aren't you jealous?"
"Jealous?"
I looked up. Dietrich, leaning against the sofa, merely turned his neck to look at me.
"Honestly, I thought you'd fallen for her at first sight. Otherwise, why suddenly designate her as your squire? But seeing you assign Baraha Islaf to her, I realize—just as you said—you were purely captivated by her talent. Anyway, you're a real stone. Is there anything besides the sword that interests you?"
When I designated Echinacea Loaz as my squire, the excuse I gave was talent. That I had recognized her talent at a glance. Among those who knew me, the idea that I was captivated by talent made far more sense than the notion that I'd fallen for someone at first sight, so most accepted it readily.
Only Dietrich, my closest confidant, harbored suspicions due to an uncanny intuition. Yet after designating her as my squire, my daily routine remained unchanged. I neither summoned her nor sought her out. I seemed far too indifferent to be someone who had fallen for another.
Still, when I heard I had intervened in the preliminary training assignment, I wondered—but then I called for Baraha Islaf. Perhaps my intention was simply to assign a talented squire to a capable senior. Maybe my intuition had been wrong.
"What meaning is there in assigning Baraha Islaf to her?"
Yurien de Harden Kirie asked with a genuinely puzzled expression. Even Dietrich had to admit that his instinct had been off—that Yurien had chosen her as his squire purely on the basis of talent. He let out a hollow murmur.
"Wow, I actually have to explain this? You really weren't paying attention at all. Yurien, I apologize for underestimating your pure devotion to swordsmanship."
Yurien de Harden Kirie frowned and closed the documents. He had deliberately arranged for Baraha Islaf to oversee her education because he was a capable squire and a good-hearted man. There was also the intention of blocking any schemes Ian Peletro might attempt regarding her training.
It had been six days since meeting her in front of the Fountain, and I hadn't visited her even once—for her sake. The memory of her slender shoulders trembling with fear made it impossible for me to go. Since I would inevitably encounter her constantly once she became an official squire, I simply endured it despite having her right before my eyes.
But jealousy? That was something I hadn't even considered. Since it was so unexpected, I needed to hear what he was actually talking about. As I showed signs of listening intently, Dietrich turned fully toward me.
"Well, normally you don't deliberately give a woman you like the opportunity to become intimate with another man. And especially not when that other man is a decent fellow."
"So you're saying that by arranging for Baraha Islaf to oversee her education, I've given her the opportunity to become intimate with a decent man?"
"Exactly. It sounds ridiculous saying it out loud, but yes."
"...Is Baraha Islaf a decent man?"
"More than decent—he's an excellent man. Young, handsome, fit, exceptional swordsman, and as a squire his future is practically guaranteed. His personality is fine too, isn't it? You have no idea how popular Baraha Islaf is with the women?"
Dietrich counted off on his fingers and added with a frown.
"Though I suppose you wouldn't know. You've always been popular, so it probably seemed ordinary to you. Lucky bastard."
"...."
That wasn't it. To me, Baraha Islaf was simply the Vice-Commander's squire and a promising cadet, regardless of gender. I had never even considered the relationship between Baraha Islaf and Echinacea Loaz in those terms.
Those terms. The phrase felt strangely unfamiliar. She was an unmarried woman. She could fall in love with someone and marry. Only now did Yurien de Harden Kirie realize this, and his face went blank. Seeing that expression, Dietrich clicked his tongue.
"Anyway, from the way you're talking, you weren't even considering any rivalry. So my suspicion was wrong after all. What would a swordsmanship devotee know of love?"
Dietrich shrugged and popped the remaining grapes into his mouth all at once. His words came out muffled by the fruit.
"I'd prefer if there were no decent men anywhere near a woman I liked. To be more honest, I'd prefer if there were no men at all—except married ones, or actually, no men whatsoever. And if women got too close, I'd be uncomfortable too."
"That sounds rather insane, to be honest."
"They say love is actually a form of mental illness."
"That's quite an exaggeration."
"You'll understand once you experience it, kid. In that sense, being the mentally ill one, I'm going to see Teresa."
Dietrich chuckled and left the Squad Leader's Office. Yurien de Harden Kirie sat in a daze, turning over the words he had left behind.
'What do I think of her...?'
She is special. So extraordinarily special that no one could take her place within me. A person like her doesn't exist. It's impossible for such a person to exist. And I want to draw closer to her. I want to become closer to her. An irresistible desire pulls me toward her.
There is guilt in what I feel toward her. A deep guilt I couldn't confess. There is fear too. Just as everything I desired from my earliest childhood was shattered or stolen away, just as the bird I cherished was struck by an arrow and died, I fear that if I desire her, she too will break. In fact, she had already broken once. She was the one who brought that broken thing back to life.
The tangled emotions ran too deep and thick to define. I've never experienced love before, so I don't even know if this is love.
Yurien de Harden Kirie closed the documents and rose from his seat, heading out of the Squad Leader's Office.
Though I hadn't visited her, I continued to receive reports about Echinacea Loaz's training. Within Changtian, there existed informants who served as the eyes and ears of the Knight Order Commander, and I received daily reports from them about the movements of my future squire. The reports barely fell within official purview because of her status as a cadet who would become my squire.
According to those reports, today she was supposed to learn how to care for horses. If so, she would be at the Stable by now.
[Huh? Where are you going all of a sudden?]
The Holy Sword asked in a slightly flustered voice, but I didn't answer. I headed straight for the Stable. My heightened senses detected two people inside. I heard soft voices conversing.
"Senior Baraha, do I just brush the mane as is?"
"No, you have to untangle the knots with your fingers first. Otherwise it'll break. Let me show you."
Echinacea Loaz's voice was bright and light. It wasn't the tense, trembling tone she used when speaking with me.
"Untangle the knots like this roughly, and then brush it."
"I see. May I try?"
"Go ahead, give it a try. Yes, like that."
The presence of the two people who had been slightly apart drew much closer. Almost overlapping. And just like that, my mood plummeted. I didn't think it was possible to feel this bad so suddenly.
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Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org
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